aztr 22 - anxiety starting to kick in

Every time I've trained for this race Ive overtrained. This year I had to drop 23kg and it was base training the whole time. I feel a lot lighter, ie 23kg lighter, I'm turning nice circles with the pedals and the training rides have been on trails that are in no way similar to what I will be riding. Fingers crossed training at 70% max HR is a good strategy for this race. I'm screwed otherwise.

An example of the magic carpet rides I get to train on. Please excuse my rubbish one handed videographer skills. I've also deleted the audio as that clicking of tyres on gravel in videos bugs the shit out of me.

I'm not saying the trails are bad, they are not, they are a lot of fun just very smooth and manicured and if I tried hard enough I could have found some more challenging trails to train on. These are the closest to home.

aztr 22 - (my) rule 1

 In 2019 I got a shuttle to the start line and during the trip down someone asked what is the most important thing to do in the race (or a question to that effect), and without thinking I blurted out my number one rule of 'don't shit yourself". A confused and classic American polite silence followed. 

That silence has lived with me since and here I can at least explain the logic.

It's my first rule, this could be different for others.

The reasoning: there a numerous reasons for getting to a point where your stomach does not want its contents anymore, that is here nor there at this juncture, this is just dealing with the why you don't want to be still on your bike and starting/finishing a bowel movement at the sane time.

1. Water is a scare commodity and using it to clean shite off butt and shorts is a waste though very necessary,

2. You'll never get your shorts clean enough to wear with a bottle of water after you have filled them with last nights dinner, and...

3. (butt) hygiene is one of the most important things during these races. A saddle sore will end a race though lying on your back and letting the mid day sun burn the saddle sore dry is an option, just be careful where you point it.

I wont ruin your day with the photo  (of course there is a photo!).

AZTR22 - Southbound

AZTR22 southbound variation looks like hell.

This is the Four Peaks reroute, unfortunately it doesn't drop down soon enough for the services along the Tonto Basin. 

 Mr. Schilling decided that before you get to Picket Post, he'd throw in a big FU sucker with an extra 1000m vertical climbing. I should be able to see over Picket Post from the top of this climb. I be able to get some great photos with Peak Finder from up there. 

On an out and back ride descending the road you sweated over is part of the fun. On Mt Lemon, the tracks below have orange as up and magenta as down. I'm hoping like hell to hit these trails during daylight.

Starting to kak myself though loads of fun playing with Topofusion.

aztr 22 - somewhat bleak

 

It was an Indian whiskey, not too bad either. Now its going to stop spokes rattling around in the handle bars. If it does rattle there is the deepest desire it rattles for the whole trip without having to open it.

The other concern is it pops out, I lose the spare spokes, and I impale myself on the open tube bar end during an accident.

aztr22 - other peoples kit

Everytime the preparation starts for the AZTR I go through the same contemplations on what configuration of kit and bags I want to use. I buy a couple of new bits of kit I think would work, look over other bits of kit I purchased for the same reason in previous years and I end up on the same configuration i raced the previous year. There is a large collection of new bikepacking kit collecting dust. My favourite bits of kit ended up being other peoples kit gifted or found along the way. Here are a few.

TD14 I rode to Sealy Lake and stopped far too long in a bar and spilt a room with another rider for the night. Heaters on full and wet kit everywhere. The next morning was cold and wet and the other rider scratched, he had finished 2013 and did not see the point in riding in such miserable conditions but that feeling had been build all the previous day. Anyway, this is a long way round to say he gifted me a feed bag as I didn't have one. This feed bag has been on every race since, it's been repaired numerous times, replaced the cinch cord. It has a hole in the bottom now that suits the dyno hub cable perfectly. It should be retired but itll feel weird not having it there.

 

The second bit of someone elses kit I found on the AZTR 15km north of Tiger Mine TH. I pulled up for the night in dark, bivvied up. I woke the next morning with a glasses soft cover right beside my head. I have used it everyday since and it is great when glasses and phone are in the same pocket.

The last bit of other peoples kit I take on every race (there have been other finds but none proved as helpful) is a velcro strap. This was also found on the AZTR on a climb towards Tortilla Flats. I have spent years trying to find a second one and found one accidentally a couple of years ago. It weighs nothing and it is perfect for pulling the handlebar bag into the bars and it prevents all movement. Just perfect. It is also good when attaching the bike to the backpack for the grand canyon crossing by keeping the wheels in place.

aztr22 - a muppet

 

What a muppet!

This'll require some explanation.

This is my trackleaders profile. It was with great contemplation a photo was added but it is more for me than you. This is a selfie after my 2019 yo-yo out side Elliots Streamliner in Tucson. Just a reminder that while it's going to be extremely hard but it can be done. 

For those that are having trouble with Brisbane, New Zealand, its where you live and what flag you want to fly under.

A muppet is a family friendly insulting term hurled at others for doing something stupid.

A yo-yo is racing both directions and hence the moniker A Muppet, as in 'you're a muppet.'

aztr22 - prophetic bag selection

Rather than get a new bag, some newly purchased straps to hold it together when it finally disintegrates seemed like a better option. A decision full of foreboding. It'll be a test to see what I can live without when it all falls apart I guess.

Using the word 'never' generally makes me a hypocrite sometime down the road. While I'm not certain I said I'd never yo yo the  Arizona trail again I am pretty sure there is some video existing with me muttering 'Aww, Jesus no'.

This year A Muppet is lining up early to hopefully start a south bound run on Oct 20th after having raced north from the 8th.

The logistics getting to the start line are are surmountable but sometimes they are more time consuming than the race and while the actual race is mentally and physically tough it is almost a relief in not having to make another decision of equipment and race logistics.

At this point Id like to say Hi and thank you in advance to all the people I'll meet and will help me in some way as being laconic I'll probably forget to say it at the time.

This will be more of a photo journal of my (proposed) last run at the AZTR, the Colorado trail is yet to be completed and the Baja Divide looks like fun too.